High estrogen is not a very popular topic for menopausal women these days.

In fact, the hottest topic in menopause is low estrogen — but what about all of the women experiencing symptoms of high estrogen?

Typically, women in peri menopause (the first stages of menopause) experience estrogen dominance symptoms before they experience low estrogen symptoms!

Why? During this time, our progesterone levels are low. Progesterone is a hormone that balances estrogen, so a low level of progesterone allows estrogen to dominate, and we experience symptoms of estrogen dominance — even if our estrogen levels are normal.

1. Weight Gain

The average women in peri menopause and menopause gains 5 to 12 pounds.

Yikes! Too much estrogen can slow your metabolism and enlarge fat cells in your belly and thighs.

Stay away from refined carbohydrates, get involved in a workout program that you love, and eat your veggies.

2. Tender Breasts

Ouch! This is no fun. It’s hard to function when your breasts hurt. You have probably noticed that as you go through your menstrual cycle, your breasts tend to hurt just before you get your period. This is when your level of estrogen rises, and your breasts become fuller and more full of fluid. All of that causes our breasts to become tender.

It’s a bit harder to predict breast pain if you are in peri menopause and you are experiencing irregular periods.

Incorporating omega-3 fats, fruits, veggies, and high fiber foods into your diet will help you feel better.

3. Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are the most common type of fibroid found in women. They are noncancerous growths of tissue and muscle in the uterus.

While they are not cancerous, they can cause you to bleed and to have other unpleasant symptoms. Also, in a very small amount of cases, uterine fibroids can pose an elevated risk of cancer, so see your doctor!

Excess estrogen promotes the growth of uterine fibroids as do high blood pressure and obesity.

4. Fatigue

Extreme tiredness is another of the symptoms of high estrogen. Fatigue may show itself as exhaustion, or you could get headaches, joint pain, muscle aches, or fevers.

After being fatigued for long amounts of time, it’s easy to fall into depression, so see your doctor and talk about treatment options if you’re feeling constantly tired.

5. Headaches

While the exact cause of menopausal headaches and migraines is difficult to pin down, it’s clear that shifting hormones and an excess of estrogen can leave our heads pounding.

Some birth control pills can cause headaches along with not getting enough sleep, and excess caffeine and chocolate.

Many women use the herb, feverfew, to lessen their menopause migraines.

Help!

Raising your progesterone level will help to treat these symptoms.

You can use progesterone cream by rubbing 1/2 to 1/4 a teaspoon onto your face, thighs, stomach, or neck once a day. Progesterone cream will also help your skin to look fresh and plump — so there is an added benefit to using it!